Search

Argentinean economic reforms introduced in the 1990s were characterized by structural adjustments which increased both job insecurity and barriers to health care. In Córdoba, some individuals found themselves without health coverage. Conversely, many private practices, also in crisis, were forced to close with a resultant loss of heath care jobs. Rather than accepting layoffs, the employees of the private Junin Clinic took over the facility and reorganized it as a cooperative. They wanted both to keep their jobs and to provide affordable health services primarily to the uninsured. We hypothesized that the quality of their clinical jobs would impact on the care they provided. We undertook to examine how changes in the organization of the clinic affected working relations and working conditions . We undertook a descriptive, correlative survey of 25 employees chosen via a multi-stage process to be representative of the clinic. Four percent worked under contract; eighty percent were professionals who split their earning 50/50 with the cooperative. The remaining workers were cooperative members. Fifty percent of those interviewed earned less than the basic minimum wage. Forty-four percent worked alone; the remaining workers were part of teams. Eighty-eight percent felt that their job was appropriate for their level of training. No one reported any occupational accidents. Eighty percent reported satisfactory hygienic conditions in their workplace. While the division of labor at the clinic had not changed since the take over, administrative structures were different. Cooperative decisions are made in large meetings. Since most professionals are not members of the cooperative, they do not participate in these meetings. However, we observed that relations and exchanges among the workers were less hierarchical. This work was undertaken to inform the debate on the relationship between working conditions and the provision of health care. We found that the work environment impacts on health care workers as they try to provide a more equitable form of health care.

Abstract Background Government-led, population-wide initiatives are crucial for advancing the management of hypertension − a leading cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. An urban population health initiative was conducted against this backdrop, focussing on hypertension in the primary health system in São Paulo, Brazil. Within the frame of the initiative and under the supervision and leadership of the municipal health authorities, a situational analysis was conducted on the needs in hypertension management, marking the first phase of a Design Thinking process. This article describes the situational analysis process and presents the identified elements to be strengthened considering hypertension diagnosis, treatment and control. Methods First, a mixed-methods approach was used, starting with a literature review of municipal hypertension data followed by meetings (N = 20) with the local public health administration to assess health system level components. To investigate activities on hypertension diagnosis, treatment and control, nine primary healthcare units were selected from two districts of São Paulo city– Itaquera and Penha– which received an online form addressed to managers, participated in conversation circles of staff and patients, and underwent shadowing of community health agents. Results Data gave rise to two main outputs: (i) a patient care journey map; and (ii) a matrix summarizing the identified needs at patient, healthcare professional and health system level for diagnosis, treatment and control of hypertension. Patient awareness and knowledge of hypertension was found to be insufficient and its management needs to be improved. For health professionals, disease awareness, technical training, more time dedicated to patients, and simplified guidelines and clinical decision-making tools for hypertension management were identified as principal needs. The situational analysis found that the healthcare systems efficiency might be improved by establishing defined treatment and care delivery goals with a focus on outcomes and implemented through action plans. Conclusions This situational analysis identified several needs related to hypertension control in São Paulo that are in line with global challenges to improve the control of CVD risk factors. Findings were also confirmed locally in an expansion phase of this situational analysis to additional primary care facilities. As a consequence, solutions were designed, promptly taken up and implemented by the municipal health secretariat.

Abstract Europe imports large amounts of soybean that are predominantly used for livestock feed, mainly sourced from Brazil, USA and Argentina. In addition, the demand for GM-free soybean for human consumption is project to increase. Soybean has higher protein quality and digestibility than other legumes, along with high concentrations of isoflavones, phytosterols and minerals that enhance the nutritional value as a human food ingredient. Here, we examine the potential to increase soybean production across Europe for livestock feed and direct human consumption, and review possible effects on the environment and human health. Simulations and field data indicate rainfed soybean yields of 3.1 ± 1.2 t ha−1 from southern UK through to southern Europe (compared to a 3.5 t ha−1 average from North America). Drought-prone southern regions and cooler northern regions require breeding to incorporate stress-tolerance traits. Literature synthesized in this work evidenced soybean properties important to human nutrition, health, and traits related to food processing compared to alternative protein sources. While acknowledging the uncertainties inherent in any modelling exercise, our findings suggest that further integrating soybean into European agriculture could reduce GHG emissions by 37–291 Mt CO2e year−1 and fertiliser N use by 0.6–1.2 Mt year−1, concurrently improving human health and nutrition.

Abstract BackgroundAccurate and timely infectious disease surveillance is pivotal for effective public health responses. An important component of this is the disease surveillance tools used. Understanding views and experiences of users is crucial for informing policy decisions and ensuring the seamless functioning of surveillance systems. ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to assess the user perceptions of 3 disease surveillance tools used in Côte d’Ivoire, namely, MAGPI, District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2), and Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS), the latter was implemented in 2021 within a pilot scheme. MethodsWe conducted interviews and a web-based survey distributed to users of the 3 surveillance tools. The survey assessed users’ views of the surveillance tools’ usefulness, ease of use, feelings toward the tool, conditions that may influence the use, and other characteristics. The descriptive analysis compared responses from SORMAS, MAGPI, and DHIS2 users, providing a comprehensive evaluation of their experiences. ResultsAmong the 159 respondents who actively use one of the systems, MAGPI was the most widely used surveillance tool among respondents (n=127, 79.9%), followed by DHIS2 (n=108, 67.9%), and SORMAS (n=25, 15.7%). In terms of users’ perceptions, SORMAS, despite its limited implementation, emerged as a tool that allows for data analysis and had the most comprehensive set of functionalities. DHIS2 was appreciated for its frequency of report provision, although users reported occasional IT system failures. MAGPI was recognized for its ease of use but was reported to lack certain functionalities offered by the other surveillance systems. ConclusionsThis study offers valuable insights into the perceptions of disease surveillance tools users in Côte d’Ivoire. While all systems were positively regarded, each exhibited strengths and weaknesses addressing different needs and functionalities. Policy makers and health officials can use these findings to enhance existing tools or consider a unified approach for infectious disease surveillance systems. Understanding users’ perspectives allows them to optimize the choice of surveillance tools, ultimately strengthening public health responses in Côte d’Ivoire and potentially serving as a model for other countries facing similar decisions in their health care systems.

The antifouling booster biocides are frequently studied for toxic effects on the aquatic ecosystems. The present investigation proposes passive silicone rubber samplers as a collection method for biocides, once these methods can concentrate substances in aqueous matrices at very low levels. Through the passive sampler-water partition coefficient (Ksw) and the analyte chemical nature, we can optimize their extraction from the membrane to apply in the sample medium. We used the co-solvent method to determine the Ksw of three third-generation antifouling biocides, chlorothalonil, dichlofluanid, and dichlorooctylisothiazolinone (DCOIT), with log Ksw = 2.24, 4.01, and 2.38, respectively. Improving extraction also led to a recovery range higher than 70%, determinations were carried out by gas chromatography with an electron capture detector. Biocides concentration in seawater samples from Itaqui port (São Marcos Bay, northern Brazil) ranged from 0.058 to 0.72 µg L-1 for chlorothalonil, 0.001 to 0.008 µg L-1 for dichlofluanid, and 0.018 to 0.64 µg L-1 for DCOIT.

The value of quantitative immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry (QIP-MS) to identify the M-protein is being investigated in patients with monoclonal gammopathies but no data are yet available in high-risk smoldering myeloma (HRsMM). We have therefore investigated QIP-MS to monitor peripheral residual disease (PRD) in 62 HRsMM patients enrolled in the GEM-CESAR trial. After 24 cycles of maintenance, detecting the M-protein by MS or clonal plasma cells by NGF identified cases with a significantly shorter median PFS (mPFS; MS: not reached vs 1,4 years, p=0.001; NGF: not reached vs 2 years, p=0.0002) but reaching CR+sCR did not discriminate patients with different outcome. With NGF as a reference, the combined results of NGF and MS showed a high negative predictive value (NPV) of MS: 81% overall and 73% at treatment completion. When sequential results were considered, sustained negativity by MS or NGF was associated with a very favorable outcome with a mPFS not yet reached vs 1.66 years and 2.18 years in cases never attaining PRD or minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity, respectively. We can thus conclude that 1) the standard response categories of the IMWG do not seem to be useful for treatment monitoring in HRsMM patients, 2) MS could be used as a non-invasive, clinical valuable tool with the capacity of guiding timely bone marrow evaluations (based on its high NPV with NGF as a reference) and 3) similarly to NGF, sequential results of MS are able identify a subgroup of HRsMM patients with long-term disease control. This study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02415413).

Abstract The genus Flavivirus comprises approximately 80 different viruses. Phylogenetic relationships among its members indicate a clear ecological separation between those viruses transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, with no known vector, and insect-specific Flaviviruses. The diversity and phylogenetic relationships among insect-specific flaviviruses circulating in the central and northern regions of Argentina were studied by performing molecular detection and characterization of the NS5 protein gene in mosquitoes collected in Córdoba, Chaco and Tucumán provinces. Overall, 68 out of 1776 pools were positive. CxFV, KRV and CFAV circulate in the 3 studied provinces. Several mosquito species (Aedes aegypti, Culex bidens, Cx. dolosus, Cx. interfor, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. saltanensis, Haemagogus spegazzini) were found infected. A wide circulation of CxFV was observed in the central-northern region of Argentina. CxFV strains detected in our study clustered with strains circulating in Santa Fe and Buenos Aires provinces (Argentina), and other countries such as Indonesia, Mexico, Uganda and Taiwan. The presence of these viruses in mosquitoes could play an important role from the public health perspective, because it has been shown that previous CxFV infection can increase or block the infection of the mosquito by other pathogenic flaviviruses.

Abstract Neutrophils play a significant role in sustaining chronic inflammation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. The intestinal basement membrane acts as a barrier for immunological homeostasis, where the α3 and α4 chains of type IV collagen are expressed on the mucosal surface. We wanted to develop a biomarker reflecting early tissue injury, providing an opportunity for intervention. Two competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) quantifying human neutrophil elastase (HNE) degraded neo-epitopes of COL4A3 and COL4A4 were developed and investigated in two observational cohorts (n = 161, n = 100). A biomarker of MMP-mediated degradation of COL4A1 (C4M) was used for comparison. In Cohort 1, patients with mild endoscopic ulcerative colitis showed elevated levels of C4A3-HNE compared to those with severe disease. C4M had a strong positive correlation with disease activity. C4A3-HNE/C4M provided superior discrimination between mild and severe endoscopic disease and negatively correlated to disease activity. In Cohort 2, C4A4-HNE and C4A4-HNE/C4M showed similar trends. C4A3-HNE and C4A4-HNE possibly reflect early intestinal tissue injury. Combining the markers with a biomarker of another α-chain of the same collagen provides information on two distinct stages of mucosal damage. These biomarkers may be used to monitor disease flare-up in patients in remission, reducing the need for frequent endoscopic procedures.

This study examined the effects of late sowing, water restrictions, and interannual weather variations on wheat grain yield and quality through field trials in Spain over two growing seasons. Delayed sowing and water scarcity significantly reduced yields, with grain quality mainly affected under rainfed conditions. Early-maturing varieties performed better in these conditions, benefiting from lower temperatures and extended grain-filling periods, leading to higher solar radiation interception, potentially increased photosynthetic activity, and improved yields. These varieties also saved water through reduced total cumulative evapotranspiration from sowing to maturity (ETo TOT), which was advantageous in water-limited environments. In contrast, late-maturing varieties were exposed to higher maximum temperatures during grain filling and experienced greater ETo TOT, leading to lower yields, reduced hectoliter weight, and a lower P/L ratio (tenacity/extensibility). This study highlighted the importance of optimizing temperature exposure and evapotranspiration for improved grain yield and quality, especially under climate change conditions with higher temperatures and water shortages. Notably, it established, for the first time, the importance of phenology on wheat quality of different varieties, suggesting that targeted selection for specific phenology could mitigate the negative impacts of heat stress not only on grain yield but also on grain quality.

One challenge in creating commercial solutions with supervised deep learning is acquiring large, customized labeled datasets. These datasets must often fit within commercial industries’ production times and budgets. There is still a need for target data that allows the model to learn specific characteristics of the target domain. The construction of customized datasets is relevant in imaging waste identification to improve the accuracy and efficiency of models, allowing adaptation to specific conditions. To address this challenge, we propose the EcoMind open-source tool. This tool facilitates waste labeling from user-provided images and empowers local dataset creation and collaborative building with users.

Cytochrome c552 from Wolinella succinogenes is one of the few examples of a low reduction potential class I c-type cytochrome with a mixture of high/low spin state populations observed in its visible spectrum. Analysis of its structural model suggests that the heme is Met/His coordinated and highly solvent-exposed. This supports the hypothesis that it is the solvent accessibility of the propionate groups that controls the reduction potential of this small c-type cytochrome. The visible spectra obtained at different pH values reveal the presence of a protonable group with a pKa of 7.3, which also influences the reduction potential of this small cytochrome c552 (Em0’ of 97 ± 5 mV, pH 7.0) and can be either an H2O/OH− group distantly coordinating the heme iron, or one of the propionate groups. The thermostability of cytochrome c552 was studied by circular dichroism and differential scanning calorimetry, indicating a highly stable protein at pH 5–7 (90°C to 77°C).

Abstract Background The Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS) has been implemented for various infectious diseases since 2015. 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, SORMAS was adapted to SARS-CoV2. Methods We assessed the acceptability and usability of SORMAS and accompanied its implementation in two pilot regions of Côte d’Ivoire (Abidjan 2 and Gbêkê) from July/August 2021 to March 2022. We conducted 136 semi-structured interviews to cover knowledge on COVID-19, information on conventional surveillance systems for disease monitoring including COVID-19, acceptability of SORMAS, and impact of SORMAS on epidemic preparedness and surveillance. Scores before and 6–8 months after implementation were compared. Results SORMAS was implemented in two pilot regions in Côte d’Ivoire. The conventional software for the surveillance of the COVID-19 pandemic by the company MAGPI was maintained in parallel; the additional time needs to enter and manage the data in SORMAS were the main concern. SORMAS acceptance and satisfaction scores were high after the user training, which was prior to implementation, and after 6–8 months of use. The ability of SORMAS to improve COVID-19 preparedness and early detection of cases and contacts was widely acknowledged. To keep the understanding and skills of users up-to-date, regular refresher trainings were requested. The expectation to be able to make decisions based on data produced by SORMAS was high at baseline and the perceived experience after several months of use of the software was very positive. Unfortunately, the link with the laboratories could not be established in the pilot regions, but it is an existing feature of SORMAS that many users were asking for. Following the positive experience using SORMAS for COVID-19, the pilot regions expanded its use for monitoring and management of measles, yellow fever, meningitis, and cholera. Conclusion SORMAS was very well accepted by users and decision makers in the two pilot regions of Côte d’Ivoire and its ability to improve epidemic preparedness and surveillance was acknowledged. If the hurdles of maintenance (tablets, server, and maintaining user skills) are handled sustainably, it can serve as a valid tool to identify, surveil and manage future outbreaks of various infectious diseases in Côte d’Ivoire.

Abstract The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family regulates various and important aspects of nervous system development, ranging from the well-established roles in neuronal patterning to more recent and exciting functions in axonal growth and synaptogenesis. In addition, FGFs play a critical role in axonal regeneration, particularly after spinal cord injury, confirming their versatile nature in the nervous system. Due to their widespread involvement in neural development, the FGF system also underlies several human neurological disorders. While particular attention has been given to FGFs in a whole-cell context, their effects at the axonal level are in most cases undervalued. Here we discuss the endeavor of the FGF system in axons, we delve into this neuronal subcompartment to provide an original view of this multipurpose family of growth factors in nervous system (dys)function. Video Abstract

This work describes a specialized optical fiber hybrid sensing configuration conceived to monitor internal physical parameters (temperature and pressure) within Li-ion batteries (LiBs) and correlate them with electrochemical performance in operando. The batteries underwent thorough cycling tests under C/3 and C/5 operating rate conditions. Throughout the cycling tests, the optical fiber sensors revealed a compelling correlation between internal and external temperature behavior. Additionally, the application of differential voltage analysis derivative curves during battery operation unveiled insights into the relationship between pressure and temperature changes and the batteries’ electrochemical performance. This optical sensing approach contributes to an understanding of internal LiB dynamics, offering implications for optimizing their performance and safety across diverse applications.

The periodontium is a complex hierarchical structure composed of alveolar bone, periodontal ligament, cementum, and gingiva. Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease that damages and destroys the periodontal tissues supporting the tooth. Periodontal therapies aim to regenerate the lost tissues, yet current treatments lack the integration of multiple structural/biochemical instructive cues to induce a coordinated regeneration, which leads to limited clinical outcomes. Hierarchical biomaterial scaffolds offer the opportunity to recreate the organization and architecture of the periodontium with distinct compartments, providing structural biomimicry that facilitates periodontal regeneration. Various scaffolds have been fabricated and tested preclinically, showing positive regenerative results. This review provides an overview of the recent research on hierarchical scaffolds for periodontal tissue engineering (TE). First, the hierarchical structure of the periodontium is described, covering the limitations of the current treatments used for periodontal regeneration and presenting alternative therapeutic strategies, including scaffolds and biochemical factors. Recent research regarding hierarchical scaffolds is highlighted and discussed, in particular, the scaffold composition, fabrication methods, and results from in vitro/in vivo studies are summarized. Finally, current challenges associated with the application of hierarchical scaffolds for periodontal TE are debated and future research directions are proposed.

Co7Zn7Mn6 is a β-Mn-type alloy belonging to the CoxZnyMnz (x+y+z=20) family that notoriously features a skyrmionic magnetic phase below the ferromagnetic ordering temperature and, in addition, a reentrant spin glass transition at low temperatures. In this work, we have studied the effect of partial substitution of Mn by Fe in the magnetic properties of this alloy. Samples of Co7Zn7Mn6−xFex, 0≤x≤1, were synthesised using the Bridgman–Stockbarger method, and their structure and composition were fully characterised by XRD and EDS. VSM and AC susceptibility measurements show that the partial substitution of Mn by Fe increases TC and the skyrmionic region of the magnetic phase diagram is suppressed for x>0.5. The AC susceptibility behaviour at low temperatures can be ascribed to the presence of a reentrant spin glass state observed for all compositions, with a spin glass freezing temperature, Tg, that shifts to lower temperatures as the Fe content increases.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is one of the main environmental problems associated with mining activity, whether the mine is operational or abandoned. In this work, several precipitates from this mine drainage generated by the oxidation of sulfide minerals, when exposed to weathering, were used as adsorbents. Such AMD precipitates from abandoned Portuguese mines (AGO, AGO-1, CF, and V9) were compared with two raw materials from Morocco (ClayMA and pyrophyllite) in terms of their efficiency in wastewater treatment. Different analytical techniques, such as XRD diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), N2 adsorption isotherms, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) were used to characterize these natural materials. The adsorption properties were studied by optimizing different experimental factors, such as type of adsorbent, adsorbent mass, and dye concentration by the Box–Behnken Design model, using methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV) compounds as organic pollutants. The obtained kinetic data were examined using the pseudo-first and pseudo-second order equations, and the equilibrium adsorption data were studied using the Freundlich and Langmuir models. The adsorption behavior of the different adsorbents was perfectly fitted by the pseudo-second order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm. The most efficient adsorbent for both dyes was AGO-1 due to the presence of the cellulose molecules, with qm equal to 40.5 and 16.0 mg/g for CV and MB, respectively. This study confirms the possibility of employing AMD precipitates to adsorb organic pollutants in water, providing valuable information for developing future affordable solutions to reduce the wastes associated with mining activity.

After the end-Triassic extinction, parvipelvian ichthyosaurs diversified and became dominant elements of marine ecosystems worldwide. By the Early Jurassic, they achieved a thunniform body plan that persisted for the last 100 m.y.a of their evolution. Diversification and extinctions of thunniform ichthyosaurs, and their swimming performance, have been studied from different perspectives. The transformation of limbs into hydrofoil-like structures for better control and stability during swimming predates thunniform locomotion. Despite their importance as control surfaces, fin evolution among thunnosaurs remains poorly understood. We explore ichthyosaur fin diversity using anatomical networks. Our results indicate that, under a common hydrofoil controller fin, the bone arrangement diversity of the ichthyosaur fin was greater than traditionally assumed. Changes in the connectivity pattern occurred stepwise throughout the Mesozoic. Coupled with other lines of evidence, such as the presence of a ball-and-socket joint at the leading edge of some derived Platypterygiinae, we hypothesize that fin network disparity also mirrored functional disparity likely associated with different capabilities of refined maneuvering. The ball-and-socket articulation indicates that this local point could be acting like a multiaxial intrafin joint changing the angle of attack and thus affecting the maneuverability, similar to the alula of flying birds. Further studies on large samples and quantitative experimental approaches would be worthy to test this hypothesis.

Painting materials used in Spanish American Colonial art comprised pigments and binders from European origin as well as those that were already known in pre-Hispanic times. In recent years, we have identified for the first time the mineral atacamite, a basic copper chloride (Cu2Cl(OH)3), in Andean Colonial art pieces (Viceroyalty of Peru, 16th–18th centuries). This work proposes a methodology based on a multitechnical approach to identify and establish the origin (natural or synthetic) of the atacamite pigment in Andean cultural heritage objects. Optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (pXRF), attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), micro-Raman spectroscopy, and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) were applied to analyse green pigments from the altarpiece of the Church of Ancoraimes, atacamite mineral samples from Chile, and atacamite obtained as a secondary product from traditional recipes used to produce verdigris, a copper acetate. Viride salsum by Teófilo Presbítero (SXII) and the Spanish translation by Andrés de Laguna (1566) of “De Materia Médica” from Dioscorides are both texts that include recipes involving the use of metallic copper as a starting material. These studies will contribute to the history of Spanish American Colonial art and to the knowledge on technological capacities and skills in the Andean region during this period.

IntroductionThe inflammatory response after spinal cord injury (SCI) is an important contributor to secondary damage. Infiltrating macrophages can acquire a spectrum of activation states, however, the microenvironment at the SCI site favors macrophage polarization into a pro-inflammatory phenotype, which is one of the reasons why macrophage transplantation has failed.MethodsIn this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of the macrophage secretome for SCI recovery. We investigated the effect of the secretome in vitro using peripheral and CNS-derived neurons and human neural stem cells. Moreover, we perform a pre-clinical trial using a SCI compression mice model and analyzed the recovery of motor, sensory and autonomic functions. Instead of transplanting the cells, we injected the paracrine factors and extracellular vesicles that they secrete, avoiding the loss of the phenotype of the transplanted cells due to local environmental cues.ResultsWe demonstrated that different macrophage phenotypes have a distinct effect on neuronal growth and survival, namely, the alternative activation with IL-10 and TGF-β1 (M(IL-10+TGF-β1)) promotes significant axonal regeneration. We also observed that systemic injection of soluble factors and extracellular vesicles derived from M(IL-10+TGF-β1) macrophages promotes significant functional recovery after compressive SCI and leads to higher survival of spinal cord neurons. Additionally, the M(IL-10+TGF-β1) secretome supported the recovery of bladder function and decreased microglial activation, astrogliosis and fibrotic scar in the spinal cord. Proteomic analysis of the M(IL-10+TGF-β1)-derived secretome identified clusters of proteins involved in axon extension, dendritic spine maintenance, cell polarity establishment, and regulation of astrocytic activation.DiscussionOverall, our results demonstrated that macrophages-derived soluble factors and extracellular vesicles might be a promising therapy for SCI with possible clinical applications.

ABSTRACTOsteoporotic-related fractures are among the leading causes of chronic disease morbidity in Europe and in the US. While a significant percentage of fractures can be repaired naturally, in delayed-union and non-union fractures surgical intervention is necessary for proper bone regeneration. Given the current lack of optimized clinical techniques to adequately address this issue, bone tissue engineering (BTE) strategies focusing on the development of scaffolds for temporarily replacing damaged bone and supporting its regeneration process have been gaining interest. The piezoelectric properties of bone, which have an important role in tissue homeostasis and regeneration, have been frequently neglected in the design of BTE scaffolds. Therefore, in this study, we developed novel hydroxyapatite (HAp)-filled osteoinductive and piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-tetrafluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE) nanofibers via electrospinning capable of replicating the tissue’s fibrous extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and native piezoelectric properties. The developed PVDF-TrFE/HAp nanofibers had biomimetic collagen fibril-like diameters, as well as enhanced piezoelectric and surface properties, which translated into a better capacity to assist the mineralization process and cell proliferation. The biological cues provided by the HAp nanoparticles enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of seeded human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) as observed by the increased ALP activity, cell-secreted calcium deposition and osteogenic gene expression levels observed for the HAp-containing fibers. Overall, our findings describe the potential of combining PVDF-TrFE and HAp for developing electroactive and osteoinductive nanofibers capable of supporting bone tissue regeneration.

To fulfill the growing demand for wheat consumption, it is important to focus on enhancement breeding strategies targeting key parameters such as yield, thousand kernel weight (TKW), quality characteristics including morphological traits, and protein content. These elements are key to the ongoing and future objectives of wheat breeding programs. Prioritizing these factors will effectively help meet the rising demand for wheat, especially given the challenges posed by unpredictable weather patterns. This study evaluated the morphological traits and protein content of 249 winter wheat varieties and advanced lines grown in eleven different environments in Morocco and Spain incorporating three varied sowing dates. The results showed considerable variability in morphological traits and protein content. Significant correlations were observed among various grain traits, with most grain morphological parameters exhibiting negative correlations with protein content. Differences across environments (p ≤ 0.01) in all traits, genotypes, and genotype by environment interaction were significant. A factorial regression analysis revealed significant impacts of environmental conditions on all grain morphological parameters, protein content, and TKW during the three growth stages. The study identified several high-performing and stable genotypes across diverse environments, providing valuable insights for wheat breeding programs such as genotypes 129, 234, 241, and 243. Genome-Wide Association Studies pinpointed 603 significant markers across 11 environments, spread across chromosomes. Among these, 400 markers were linked with at least two traits or observed in at least two different environments. Moreover, twelve marker-trait associations were detected that surpassed the Bonferroni correction threshold. These findings highlight the importance of targeted breeding efforts to enhance wheat quality and adaptability to different environmental conditions.

IntroductionClimate change poses significant challenges to agriculture, impacting crop yields and necessitating adaptive strategies in breeding programs. This study investigates the genetic yield progress of wheat varieties in Catalonia, Spain, from 2007 to 2021, and examines the relationship between genetic yield and climate-related factors, such as temperature. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for ensuring the resilience of wheat crops in the face of changing environmental conditions.MethodsGenetic yield progress was assessed using a linear regression function, comparing the average yield changes of newly released wheat varieties to benchmark varieties. Additionally, a quadratic function was employed to model genetic yield progress in winter wheat (WW). The study also analyzed correlations between genetic yield (GY) and normalized values of hectoliter weight (HLW) and the number of grains (NG) for both spring wheat (SW) and WW. Weather data were used to confirm climate change impacts on temperature and its effects on wheat growth and development.ResultsThe study found that genetic yield was stagnant for SW but increased linearly by 1.31% per year for WW. However, the quadratic function indicated a possible plateau in WW genetic yield progress in recent years. Positive correlations were observed between GY and normalized values of HLW and NG for both SW and WW. Climate change was evident in Catalonia, with temperatures increasing at a rate of 0.050 °C per year. This rise in temperature had detrimental effects on days to heading (DH) and HLW, with reductions observed in both SW and WW for each °C increase in annual minimum and average temperature.DiscussionThe findings highlighted the urgent need to address the impact of climate change on wheat cultivation. The stagnation of genetic yield in SW and the potential plateau in WW genetic yield progress call for adaptive measures. Breeding programs should prioritize phenological adjustments, particularly sowing date optimization, to align with the most favorable months of the year. Moreover, efforts should be made to enhance HLW and the number of grains per unit area in new wheat varieties to counteract the negative effects of rising temperatures. This research underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and adaptation in agricultural practices to ensure yield resilience in the context of a changing climate.

IntroductionRice heavily relies on nitrogen fertilizers, posing environmental, resource, and geopolitical challenges. This study explores sustainable alternatives like animal manure and remote sensing for resource-efficient rice cultivation. It aims to assess the long-term impact of organic fertilization and remote sensing monitoring on agronomic traits, yield, and nutrition.MethodsA six-year experiment in rice fields evaluated fertilization strategies, including pig slurry (PS) and chicken manure (CM) with mineral fertilizers (MIN), MIN-only, and zero-fertilization. Traits, yield, spectral responses, and nutrient content were measured. Sentinel-2 remote sensing tracked crop development.ResultsCost-effective organic fertilizers (PS and CM) caused a 13% and 15% yield reduction but still doubled zero-fertilization yield. PS reduced nitrogen leaching. Heavy metals in rice grains were present at safe amounts. Organic-fertilized crops showed nitrogen deficiency at the late vegetative stages, affecting yield. Sentinel-2 detected nutrient deficiencies through NDVI.DiscussionOrganic fertilizers, especially PS, reduce nitrogen loss, benefiting the environment. However, they come with yield trade-offs and nutrient management challenges that can be managed and balanced with reduced additional mineral applications. Sentinel-2 remote sensing helps manage nutrient deficiencies. In summary, this research favors cost-effective organic fertilizers with improved nutrient management for sustainable rice production.

Theory predicts that temperature fluctuations should reduce performance near an organism's thermal optimum. A new study in PLOS Biology found fluctuations increased parasite transmission instead, highlighting questions about how climate change will impact infectious diseases.

Structural parts’ integrity should remain as specified and designed, although it can change due to ageing and use by environmental action and accidental events. Structural parts design is carried out considering certain service conditions that can be different from operating conditions. These parts often experience dynamic solicitations that change in amplitude and frequency over time, which may cause the part’s failure. The part’s real condition can be assessed by Structural Health Monitoring systems, which grant significant social, economic, and environmental impact, as they can reduce maintenance costs and ensure the integrity of the part and its surroundings. This can be performed with an integrated monitoring system comprising sensors, on the surface or embedded, into the components. However, surface sensors are subject to damage, from collisions and/or environmental action, and embedding sensors can be very challenging and may result in a weakened part. A Self-Sensing Material (SSM) was developed based on piezoelectric particles embedded in metal parts by a solid-state processing technology. The material can act as a sensor and continuously monitor its condition. The SSM's generates an electrical voltage signal when subject to strain stimulus. Moreover, the solid-state processing technology employed promotes mechanical properties enhancement in the processed zone, not only by the grain size reduction but also due to the incorporation of the piezoelectric particles. The response to a set of dynamic loads was assessed and was found to be coherent with the solicitations applied.

The production of Polymer Matrix Composites (PMCs) through Additive Manufacturing (AM) presents new defects, and the detection of these is crucial for proper functioning. Non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques such as terahertz (THz), air-coupled ultrasounds, and active thermography are fast, automatable, non-invasive, and noncontact inspection methods. The aim of this study is to investigate the use of NDT techniques for detecting defects in PMCs produced by AM. Six samples were produced using polylactic acid (PLA) as the base material and reinforced with continuous fibers of Kevlar, glass, and carbon. Two types of samples were created: one with a full-thickness reinforcement defect in a specific area and the other with a partial reinforcement defect, with a layer of fibers missing in the same area. The samples were then tested using three NDT techniques: THz, non-contact ultrasonic, and active thermography. The results showed that THz was only able to detect the defect in the carbon fiber sample with full-thickness reinforcement, ultrasonic testing was able to detect the defects in Kevlar and carbon fiber samples with missing three layers of fibers, and active thermography was the most reliable technique, detecting all samples with missing three layers of fibers as well as partial reinforcement defects.

Whiplash injuries, mainly located in the neck, are one of the most common injuries resulting from road collisions. These injuries can be particularly challenging to detect, compromising the ability to monitor patients adequately. This work presents the development and validation of a computationally efficient model, called Efficient Neck Model—2D (ENM-2D), capable of simulating the whiplash injury mechanism. ENM-2D is a planar multibody model consisting of several bodies that model the head and neck with the same mass and inertia properties of a male occupant model in the 50th percentile. The damping and non-linear spring parameters of the kinematic joints were identified through a multiobjective optimization process, solved sequentially. The TNO-Human Body Model (TNO-HBM), a validated occupant model for rear impact, was simulated, and its responses were used as a reference for validation purposes. The root mean square (RMS) of the deviations of angular positions of the bodies were used as objective functions, starting from the bottom vertebra to the top, and ending in the head. The sequence was repeated until it converged, ending the optimization process. The identified ENM-2D model could simulate the whiplash injury mechanism kinematics and accurately determine the injury criteria associated with head and neck injuries. It had a relative deviation of 8.3% for the head injury criteria and was 12.5 times faster than the reference model.

Wheat is a staple food in many areas around the World. In the 20th century, breeders and scientists were able to boost wheat yield considerably. However, a yield plateau has become a concern and is threatening food security. Investments in cutting-edge technologies, including genomics and precision phenology measurements, can provide valuable tools to drive crop improvement. The objectives of this study were to (i) investigate the genetic diversity in a set of winter wheat lines, (ii) characterize their phenological response under different vernalization and photoperiod conditions, and (iii) identify effective markers associated with the phenological traits. A total of 249 adapted genotypes of different geographical origin were genotyped using the 35K Axiom® Wheat Breeder’s Array. A total of 11,476 SNPs were used for genetic analysis. The set showed an average polymorphism information content of 0.37 and a genetic diversity of 0.43. A population structure analysis revealed three distinct subpopulations mainly related to their geographical origin (Europe, North America, and Western Asia). The lines of CGIAR origin showed the largest diversity and the lowest genetic distance to all other subpopulations. The phenology of the set was studied under controlled conditions using four combinations of long (19 h light) and short photoperiod (13 h light) and long vernalization (49 days at 5 °C) and no vernalization. With this, phenological traits such as earliness per se (Eps), relative response to vernalization (RRV), and relative response to photoperiod (RRP) were calculated. The phenotypic variation of growing degree days was significant in all phenology combinations. RRV ranged from 0 to 0.56, while RRP was higher with an overall average of 0.25. The GWAS analysis detected 30 marker-trait associations linked to five phenological traits. The highest significant marker was detected on chromosome 2D with a value of −log10(p) = 11.69. Only four loci known to regulate flowering exceeded the Bonferroni correction threshold of −log10(p) > 5.1. These results outline a solid foundation to address global food security and offer tremendous opportunities for advancing crop improvement strategies.

BackgroundA school preventive chemotherapy (PC) program for soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and schistosomiasis has operated in Huambo, Uige and Zaire provinces, Angola, since 2013 and 2014, respectively; complemented by a school water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) program in a subset of schools from 2016. Conducted in 2021, this is the first impact assessment of the school program for the control of schistosomiasis and STHs.Methodology/principal findingsA two-stage cluster design was used to select schools and schoolchildren for parasitological and WASH surveys. The rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), point of care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) and Hemastix, were used to estimate Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium prevalence, respectively. Kato Katz was used to detect STHs, and quantify STH and S. mansoni infections. Urine filtration was used to quantify S. haematobium infections. Prevalence, infection intensity, relative prevalence reduction and egg reduction rates were calculated for schistosomiasis and STHs. Cohen's Kappa co-efficient was used to assess agreement between RDTs and microscopy. Chi-square or Fisher's exact test was used to compare WASH indicators in WASH-supported and WASH-unsupported schools. Overall, 17,880 schoolchildren (599 schools) and 6,461 schoolchildren (214 schools) participated in the schistosomiasis and STH surveys, respectively. Prevalence of any schistosomiasis in Huambo was 29.6%, Uige 35.4%, and Zaire 28.2%. Relative reduction in schistosomiasis prevalence from 2014 for Huambo was 18.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 8.6, 29.0), Uige -92.3% (95%CI -162.2, -58.3), and Zaire -14.0% (95%CI -48.6, 20.6). Prevalence of any STH in Huambo was 16.3%, Uige 65.1%, and Zaire 28.2%. Relative reduction in STH prevalence for Huambo was -28.4% (95%CI -92.1, 35.2), Uige -10.7% (95%CI -30.2, 8.8), and Zaire -20.9% (95%CI -79.5, 37.8). A higher proportion of WASH-supported schools had improved water sources, and toilet and handwashing facilities compared to WASH-unsupported schools.Conclusions/significanceThe limited impact this school program has had in controlling schistosomiasis and STHs identifies the need for a comprehensive understanding of individual, community, and environmental factors associated with transmission, and consideration for a community-wide control program.

En esta publicación podemos apreciar algunas de las diferentes prácticas en la aplicación del Análisis Institucional (A.I.) y las pedagogías críticas, lo cual representa un esfuerzo y un desafío en la perspectiva de reconocer la urgente necesidad de reivindicar un A. I. como método del trabajo “que pone el acento en la descripción de las condiciones de investigación, sobre la implicación permanente y no sólo mencionada puntualmente, sobre el lazo entre implicación e institucionalización (Lourau;2001. 24)..

The development of accurate grain yield (GY) multivariate models using normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) assessments obtained from aerial vehicles and additional agronomic traits is a promising option to assist, or even substitute, laborious agronomic in-field evaluations for wheat variety trials. This study proposed improved GY prediction models for wheat experimental trials. Calibration models were developed using all possible combinations of aerial NDVI, plant height, phenology, and ear density from experimental trials of three crop seasons. First, models were developed using 20, 50 and 100 plots in training sets and GY predictions were only moderately improved by increasing the size of the training set. Then, the best models predicting GY were defined in terms of the lowest Bayesian information criterion (BIC) and the inclusion of days to heading, ear density or plant height together with NDVI in most cases were better (lower BIC) than NDVI alone. This was particularly evident when NDVI saturates (with yields above 8 t ha-1) with models including NDVI and days to heading providing a 50% increase in the prediction accuracy and a 10% decrease in the root mean square error. These results showed an improvement of NDVI prediction models by the addition of other agronomic traits. Moreover, NDVI and additional agronomic traits were unreliable predictors of grain yield in wheat landraces and conventional yield quantification methods must be used in this case. Saturation and underestimation of productivity may be explained by differences in other yield components that NDVI alone cannot detect (e.g. differences in grain size and number).

Periodontitis is a destructive inflammatory disease characterized by microbial infection that damages the tissues supporting the tooth (alveolar bone, gingiva, periodontal ligament, and cementum), ultimately resulting in the loss of teeth. The ultimate goal of periodontal therapy is to achieve the regeneration of all of the periodontal tissues. Thus, tissue engineering approaches have been evolving from simple membranes or grafts to more complex constructs. Hydrogels are highly hydrophilic polymeric networks with the ability to simulate the natural microenvironment of cells. In particular, hydrogels offer several advantages when compared to other forms of scaffolds, such as tissue mimicry and sustained drug delivery. Moreover, hydrogels can maintain a moist environment similar to the oral cavity. Hydrogels allow for precise placement and retention of regenerative materials at the defect site, minimizing the potential for off-target effects and ensuring that the treatment is focused on the specific defect site. As a mechanism of action, the sustained release of drugs presented by hydrogels allows for control of the disease by reducing the inflammation and attracting host cells to the defect site. Several therapeutic agents, such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and osteogenic drugs, have been loaded into hydrogels, presenting effective benefits in periodontal health and allowing for sustained drug release. This review discusses the causes and consequences of periodontal disease, as well as the advantages and limitations of current treatments applied in clinics. The main components of hydrogels for periodontal regeneration are discussed focusing on their different characteristics, outcomes, and strategies for drug delivery. Novel methods for the fabrication of hydrogels are highlighted, and clinical studies regarding the periodontal applications of hydrogels are reviewed. Finally, limitations in current research are discussed, and potential future directions are proposed.

This study considers critical aspects of water management and crop productivity in wheat cultivation, specifically examining the daily cumulative actual evapotranspiration (ETa). Traditionally, ETa surface energy balance models have provided estimates at discrete time points, lacking a holistic integrated approach. Field trials were conducted with 22 distinct wheat varieties, grown under both irrigated and rainfed conditions over a two-year span. Leaf area index prediction was enhanced through a robust multiple regression model, incorporating data acquired from an unmanned aerial vehicle using an RGB sensor, and resulting in a predictive model with an R2 value of 0.85. For estimation of the daily cumulative ETa integral, an integrated approach involving remote sensing and energy balance models was adopted. An examination of the relationships between crop yield and evapotranspiration (ETa), while considering factors like year, irrigation methods, and wheat cultivars, unveiled a pronounced positive asymptotic pattern. This suggests the presence of a threshold beyond which additional water application does not significantly enhance crop yield. However, a genetic analysis of the 22 wheat varieties showed no correlation between ETa and yield. This implies opportunities for selecting resource-efficient wheat varieties while minimizing water use. Significantly, substantial disparities in water productivity among the tested wheat varieties indicate the possibility of intentionally choosing lines that can optimize grain production while minimizing water usage within breeding programs. The results of this research lay the foundation for the development of resource-efficient agricultural practices and the cultivation of crop varieties finely attuned to water-scarce regions.

A hybrid fiber sensor for the simultaneous measurement of pressure and temperature is proposed. The sensor is constituted of a section of silica capillary tube (SCT) whereat access channels are created with two different methods: instilling a bubble on the fiber by employing successive arc discharges on the SCT whilst under pressure and splicing the SCT with another section of SCT with a smaller inner diameter. The reflection-based sensor enhances Fabry–Perot interference (FPI) and antiresonant (AR) guidance, simultaneously, in a single sensing element of a few millimeters. A comparison study between the access channel methods reveals higher spectral visibility for the bubble method and similar pressure and temperature resolutions. For a 2.58 mm long sensor with a bubble, the sensitivity to pressure is 4.09 ± 0.01 nm/MPa and −3.7 ± 0.1 nm/MPa for the FPI and AR, respectively, while its sensitivity to temperature is −0.20 ± 0.02 pm/°C and 24.0 ± 0.5 pm/°C, respectively, for the FPI and AR, which are within the numerically calculated sensitivities. The sensor is robust and has a convenient reflective probe with easy and low-cost fabrication, granting high competitiveness in actual applications.

Microbial activity is present at every step of the malting process. It is, therefore, critical to manage the grain-associated microbial communities for the production of high-quality malts. This study characterized barley and malt epiphytic microbiota by metabarcoding the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 2 region and the 16S rRNA gene V1–V4 metabarcodes, respectively. We elucidated the changes in the diversity and the compositional and functional changes of the grain-associated microbiota and inferred the impact of such changes on malting efficiency and premature yeast flocculation (PYF) of the commercial malt end product. Through the malting process, the fungal diversity decreased while bacterial community diversity increased. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and some mycotoxin-producing fungi (e.g. Fusarium spp.) were found to be significantly enriched in malts. Most potential fungal pathogens, however, did not change in abundance through the malting process. Fungi (e.g. Aureobasidium, Candida) and bacteria (e.g. LAB, Arthrobacter, Brachybacterium) with the potential to generate organic acids or exhibit high hydrolytic enzymatic activity for degrading the endosperm cell walls and storage proteins were detected in greater abundance in kilned malt, suggesting their contribution to malting efficiency. Bacterial and fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) associated with PYF-positive malt were mainly identified as Aureobasidium, Candida, and Leuconostoc, while Pleosporaceae, Steptococcus, and Leucobacter were associated with PYF-negative malt. The ecological networks of the field and steeped barley samples were found to be larger and denser, while that of the malt microbiome was smaller and less connected. A decrease in the proportion of negative interactions through the malting process suggested that malting destabilized the microbial networks. In summary, this study profiled the microbiota of commercial malting barley and malt samples in western Canada; the findings expanded our knowledge in the microbiology of malting while providing potential insights regarding the management of microbial-associated problems, such as PYF, in commercial malting.

Background:. Implant covering with an interface material is the standard in prepectoral breast reconstruction. Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) is frequently used, but it is expensive and associated with complications. Alternatively, we have been using integrated devices consisting of a silicone implant coated with polyurethane (PU) foam. We aimed to compare both techniques in terms of acute complications. Methods:. The authors retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing prepectoral direct-to-implant reconstruction from June 2018 to January 2022. Two cohorts were defined based on the interface material used: ADM versus PU. Total drainage volume, time to drain removal, and acute complications (hematoma, seroma, infection, and explantation) were analyzed. Results:. Forty-four breast reconstructions were performed in 35 patients (10 bilateral); implants were covered with ADM in 23 cases and with PU foam in 21. Median total drainage volume (500 versus 515 cc for ADM and PU, respectively) and time to drain removal (9 versus 8 days) were not affected by the interface material used, but seromas and infections occurred exclusively in the ADM cohort (seromas in four of 23 of cases, P = 0.109; infections in three of 23 cases, P = 0.234). Overall complications occurred more often in cases reconstructed with ADM, but the difference was nonsignificant (P = 0.245). Conclusions:. The use of interface materials is generally considered a prerequisite for state-of-the-art prepectoral breast reconstruction for a variety of reasons, including the prevention of capsular contracture. In this study, PU coating tended to be associated with fewer short-term complications than ADM, including seroma and infection.

A growing body of work clearly documents the gendered inequalities in health. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed these deep inequities: men appear to be more vulnerable to poorer outcomes, but most of the global health workforce is female who are at increased risk of exposure to hospital infection. However, researchers often fail to adequately embed gender as part of the public health research. This paper reports findings from a synthesis exercise that identified some of the challenges of integrating gender in the design and processes of research studies in four projects conducted in six low- and middle-income countries. Through a collective retrospective meta-synthesis process with researchers from each project, we identified two main themes; (i) we deep dive on two of the structural pillars of conducting public health research (design and process) and (ii) we describe some of the underlying opportunities and resistances to the integration of a gender perspective in these research projects. In conclusion, we suggest that public health funding bodies require researchers to integrate gender in public health research from early on as part of the design and to conduct gendered analysis, as part of the overall drive towards more equitable health systems delivery.

The culture microenvironment has been demonstrated to regulate stem cell fate and to be a crucial aspect for quality-controlled stem cell maintenance and differentiation to a specific lineage. In this context, extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are particularly important to mediate the interactions between the cells and the culture substrate. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are usually cultured as anchorage-dependent cells and require adhesion to an ECM substrate to support their survival and proliferation in vitro. Matrigel, a common substrate for hiPSC culture is a complex and undefined mixture of ECM proteins which are expensive and not well suited to clinical application. Decellularized cell-derived ECM has been shown to be a promising alternative to the common protein coatings used in stem cell culture. However, very few studies have used this approach as a niche for neural differentiation of hiPSCs.Here, we developed a new stem cell culture system based on decellularized cell-derived ECM from neural progenitor cells (NPCs) for expansion and neural differentiation of hiPSCs, as an alternative to Matrigel and poly-l-ornithine/laminin-coated well plates. Interestingly, hiPSCs were able to grow and maintain their pluripotency when cultured on decellularized ECM from NPCs (NPC ECM). Furthermore, NPC ECM enhanced the neural differentiation of hiPSCs compared to poly-l-ornithine/laminin-coated wells, which are used in most neural differentiation protocols, presenting a statistically significant enhancement of neural gene expression markers, such as βIII-Tubulin and MAP2.Taken together, our results demonstrate that NPC ECM provides a functional microenvironment, mimicking the neural niche, which may have interesting future applications for the development of new strategies in neural stem cell research.

The classification and quantification of kitchen and food waste is a necessary strategy to improve the sustainability of waste management. The objective of this study was to quantify and describe the solid waste generated in the kitchen (food processing zone) and canteen of an official institution over the course of a year. A waste sampling protocol was established, which made it possible to identify, classify and characterize the generated waste. It generated 802.4 kg of total waste/day, representing 0.34 kg.day-1.person-1, with similar averages in the processing and canteen zones and greater generation during the main meals. Dry (15%), wet (73%) and mixed (11.8%) wastes were identified. Dry waste was generated mainly in the processing area, and to manage it during the preparation of the main menu, the practices included in the 4Rs are proposed. The strategy of source separation of said area will allow a 93.5% reduction of mixed waste. The generated wet waste was 587.77 kg/day. Among other characteristics, wet waste showed acid pH, high moisture content, balanced lignocellulose biomass composition and C/N ratios within the range considered optimal for biological transformation such as aerobic composting and/or anaerobic digestion or fermentation. In addition, it is rich in protein and fiber, which is why it is proposed to manufacture animal feed as an alternative destination for digestion processes. This study identifies great potential for sustainable management of food loss and waste, in accordance with the objectives of the circular economy.

El artículo tiene como objetivo presentar los avances realizados en el análisis de temas que atraviesan la vida cotidiana de integrantes de una pequeña comunidad rural en Patagonia sur; como producto de las actividades realizadas en el marco del Plan de Formación de la Beca de Iniciación a la Investigación otorgada por la UNPA. Dicho Plan significó la adscripción al Proyecto de Investigación “Análisis de las Institucionesy de las Prácticas Sociales en el mundo de la vida rural en Patagonia Austral” (29/A481), radicado en el IEC de la UARG. A tal fin, se utilizaron los datos construidos a partir de la información obtenida en el estudio exploratorio realizado en el Departamento Lago Argentino de la provincia de Santa Cruz, en el segundo cuatrimestre de 2021; con el propósito de obtener información sobre la vida cotidiana dela comunidad rural de esa zona. En este sentido, se pretende realizar un aporte a la reflexión crítica sobre algunas características de la vida cotidiana que contribuya a la comprensión del mundo rural en la Patagonia austral desde un enfoque institucional. Como primeros avances se logró precisar y reajustar la propuesta preliminar de categorías; además de profundizar temas centrales para el cumplimiento de los objetivos del PI, los cuales son: historia del poblamiento en Santa Cruz, dinámica demográfica delámbito rural en Argentina y Santa Cruz, perspectivas teóricas que sustentan el análisis, metodología utilizada y resultados obtenidos hasta aquí. La incorporación al equipo de investigación se realizó como estudiante avanzada de la Licenciatura en Trabajo Social de la UARG. Por tal motivo, se consideró importante desde la mirada disciplinar del Trabajo Social reflexionar respecto de algunas condiciones que caracterizan la vida cotidiana de estas comunidades en el presente y aportar a la construcción de una base de datos confiable en función de futuras intervenciones. Cabe consignar que los estudios sobre la ruralidad sur patagónica constituyen un área de vacancia en el Trabajo Social.

In vitro and in vivo methods were used to evaluate amino acids solubility of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae meal and two experimental diets (reference and test diets) for Atlantic salmon. The current study used in vitro method such as pH stat to compare and standardise the salmon extracted enzyme (SE), and commercial enzyme (CE) based on their hydrolytic capacity on a purified protein substrate. Further, an in vitro amino acid solubility of feed ingredients and diets were measured using the standardised enzyme volume from SE and CE. Results showed that SE and CE exhibit similar protein hydrolytic capacity upon standardisation on purified substrates. However, when using the two-stage hydrolysis (acidic and alkaline steps), significantly higher amino acid solubility was observed with CE except for glycine, and proline which were equally solubilised by both SE, and CE. No significant difference was observed between reference and test diet using the SE except for tyrosine, valine, leucine, and phenylalanine, which were significantly higher solubilised in reference diet than test diet. Whereas higher solubility of valine, isoleucine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid was observed in test diet using CE than SE. Similarly, the solubility of valine, isoleucine, and glutamic acid were higher in BSF larvae meal when CE was used. The in vivo true protein digestibility of BSF larvae meal was 99%, and 81% for the test diet containing BSF larvae meal. The results demonstrated a positive correlation (r = 0.91; p < 0.01) between salmon and commercial enzymes but overall, no significant correlation was observed for amino acid solubility between in vivo and in vitro. However, there was a strong positive correlation for protein solubility using SE (r = 0.98) than CE (r = 0.74) with the in vivo true protein digestibility. The efficiency of SE, and CE can be compared, and standardised based on DH%, and hence correlates better with the in vivo protein digestibility but not with amino acid solubilities.

Avocado is one of the most commercialized and profitable fruits in the international market. Its cultivation and production are centered in countries characterized by tropical and subtropical climatic conditions, many of them with emerging economies. Moreover, the use of technology is key to agricultural production improvement strategies. Using avocado crop data to forecast the potential impacts of biotic and abiotic factors, combined with smart farming technologies, growers can apply measures during a single production phase to reduce the risks caused by pests and weather variations. Therefore, this paper aims to distinguish the most relevant variables related to agroclimatic and phytosanitary events in avocado crops, their incidence on production and risk management, as well as the emerging technologies used for the identification and analysis of pests and diseases in avocados. A scientific literature search was performed, and the first search found 608 studies, and once the screening process was applied, 37 papers were included in this review. In the results, three research questions were answered that described the pests and diseases with high impact on avocado production, along with the data sources and the principal enabling technologies used in the identification of agroclimatic and phytosanitary events in avocados. Some challenges and trends in the parameterization of the technology in field conditions for data collection are also highlighted.

GaMo4Se8, is a lacunar spinel where skyrmions have been recently reported. This compound belongs to the GaM4X8 family, where M is a transition metal (V or Mo) and X is a chalcogenide (S or Se). In this work, we have obtained pure GaMo4Se8 in polycrystalline form through an innovative two-step synthetic route. Phase purity and chemical composition were confirmed through the Rietveld refinement of the powder XRD pattern, the sample characterisation having been complemented with SEM analysis. The magnetic phase diagram was investigated using DC (VSM) and AC magnetometry, which disclosed the presence of cycloidal, skyrmionic and ferromagnetic phases in polycrystalline GaMo4Se8.

This work describes the characterization of pigments and ground layers in two paintings by the renowned Argentinian painter Antonio Berni (1905–1981). The studied paintings are “Toledo” and “Figure” from the collection of the Provincial Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe (Argentina). To approach this goal, an integrated investigation comprising in situ X-ray fluorescence measurements by means of a portable system (pXRF), micro-Raman spectroscopy, Attenuated Total Reflection–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS) was carried out. The results revealed a chromatic palette with inorganic pigments, such as ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, lead white, zinc white, yellow cadmium, and hydrated chromium oxide (viridian), together with a preparation layer consisting of a mixture of earth, lead white, and calcite in “Toledo”. On the other hand, the preparation layer in “Figure” was characterized as lithopone, a mixture of barium sulfate and zinc sulfide. ATR-FTIR-analysis revealed the formation of metallic soaps in both paintings due to the reaction of fatty acids from a drying oil used as a binder with lead and zinc pigments, as confirmed by comparison with the infrared spectra of synthetic lead and zinc soaps. This study contributes to the understanding of Berni’s painting style and the future restoration of both artworks.

Abstract Faults and fractures can be permeable pathways for focused fluid flow in structurally controlled ore‐forming hydrothermal systems. However, quantifying their role in fluid flow on the scale of several kilometers with numerical models typically requires high‐resolution meshes. This study introduces a modified numerical representation of m‐scale fault zones using lower‐dimensional elements (here, one‐dimensional [1D] elements in a 2D domain) to resolve structurally controlled fluid flow with coarser mesh resolutions and apply the method to magmatic‐hydrothermal ore‐forming systems. We modeled horizontal and vertical structure‐controlled magmatic‐hydrothermal deposits to understand the role of permeability and structure connectivity on ore deposition. The simulation results of vertically extended porphyry copper systems show that ore deposition can occur along permeable vertical structures where ascending, overpressured magmatic fluids are cooled by downflowing ambient fluids. Structure permeability and fault location control the distribution of ore grades. In highly permeable structures, the mineralization can span up to 3 km vertically, resulting in heat‐pipe mechanisms that promote the ascent of a magmatic vapor phase to an overlying structurally controlled epithermal system. Simulations for the formation of subhorizontal vein‐type deposits suggest that the major control on fluid flow and metal deposition along horizontal structures is the absence of vertical structures above the injection location but their presence at greater distances. Using a dynamic permeability model mimicking crack‐seal mechanisms within the structures leads to a pulsating behavior of fracture‐controlled hydrothermal systems and prevents the inflow of ambient fluids under overpressured conditions.

BackgroundCrohn’s disease (CD) is characterized by excessive protease activity and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. To date, 30–50% of patients experience non-response to anti-TNF-α treatment. This study aimed to assess whether serological biomarkers of ECM turnover could monitor or predict response to infliximab (IFX) induction therapy in patients with and without a surgical history.MethodsSerum biomarkers of type I (C1M), III (C3M), IV (C4M), and VI (C6Ma3) collagen degradation, type III (PRO-C3) and VI (PRO-C6) collagen formation, basement membrane turnover (PRO-C4), and T-cell activity (C4G), were measured at baseline and week 14, in 63 patients with CD undergoing IFX induction therapy. Patients were stratified according to surgical history.ResultsC4M was elevated at baseline in responders with a surgical history (n = 10) and associated with response at baseline (P < 0.05). Additionally, C6Ma3, PRO-C3, and PRO-C6 were elevated at week 14 in responders compared with non-responders (n = 8) and could differentiate between the two groups (P < 0.05). Two biomarker ratios (C4M/C4G and PRO-C4/C4G) were elevated at week 14 in non-responders (n = 5) without a surgical history compared with responders (n = 40) and could differentiate between the response groups (P < 0.05).ConclusionBaseline levels of a serological biomarker for type IV collagen degradation associated with response to IFX induction therapy, and biomarkers of type III and VI collagen formation may be used to monitor response at the end of induction therapy in patients with a surgical history. Biomarker ratios of type IV collagen turnover demonstrated promising results in monitoring treatment response in patients without a surgical history.

The present research aimed to verify the effect of 10 weeks of structured FT grouped by muscular actions (GFT) or alternating actions (AFT) on scapular and lumbar-pelvic girdle stability. One hundred and twenty adults (60 men; 60 women) were allocated into three groups, GFT (n= 40) that performed the actions in sequence (squat - squat - pull - pull), AFT (n= 40) that performed alternate actions (squat - pull - squat - pull) and the control group (CG, n= 40). The shoulder girdle and pelvic girdle stability were assessed using the Octobalance Upper Body Test. The GFT increased stability after the intervention and compared to the CG (p= 0.003) as assessed by the relative range of the right (ES= 0.53) and left (ES= 0.57) hemispheres. Besides, most results were within the instrument's error value and the magnitude of the effect was moderate to trivial among the experimental groups. Conclusions: Therefore, ten weeks of functional training performed in a grouped sequence promoted improvements in scapular and lumbar-pelvic girdle stability.